EMPLOYMENT LAW


simply to avoid the guilt associated with taking time off after the birth of a child. Others have told the Federation they cannot afford to take two weeks off as the second week is only statutory pay, therefore left with little option but to take annual leave. Ms Warnes said these accounts were “deeply troubling” and far more common than forces acknowledged. “We hear from officers who feel judged for wanting to take paternity leave at all,” she said. “Some are made to feel they are letting their colleagues down, even though they are simply trying to spend time with their newborn. That kind of cultural pressure has no place in a modern police service.” Officers also report inconsistent advice from HR departments, delays in approval and confusion about eligibility. Some say they were contacted during their leave or nudged to return early because of operational pressures. Others describe being asked intrusive questions, particularly in same sex or blended families, where managers appeared unsure about how the rules applied. The Federation is asking for risk assessments to be completed before they return to work, checking whether they have had enough rest for example, to ensure their health and safely is looked after. The Police Federation has been calling since 2023 for day one rights for all forms of family leave and pay, arguing that no officer should have to earn the right to care for their child or grieve for


their partner. A decision from the Home Secretary on whether police provisions will be updated is still awaited. Ms Warnes added: “Officers have been waiting far too long for a decision on whether police family leave will be modernised. They deserve certainty. They deserve fairness. And they deserve to know that their service will not be used as a reason to deny them the same rights other workers already have.” The debate extends beyond paternity leave. The Carer’s Leave Act 2023


Ms Warnes said the lack of national


“Policing needs a single, modern carers’ leave policy that treats officers with dignity, wherever they serve.”


introduced a day one right to carer’s leave for all employees from April 2024, and police officers now benefit from this entitlement. But the way forces interpret the policy varies significantly. Some treat carer’s leave as paid, others as unpaid. Some require officers to use special leave or dependants’ leave instead. In many cases, the ease of approval depends heavily on the discretion of individual line managers. Officers say this creates a postcode


lottery. In some forces, supervisors take a compassionate approach and offer flexibility. In others, officers rely on annual leave, unpaid time off or the goodwill of colleagues. Even within the same force, decisions can differ between divisions.


consistency was “one of the most damaging aspects of the current system”. She said: “We cannot have a situation where an officer’s ability to care for a sick child or elderly parent depends on where they work. That is not fairness. That is not professionalism. Policing needs a single, modern carers’ leave policy that treats officers with dignity, wherever they serve.” The Police Federation has proposed a wide package of reforms, including paid carers’ leave, extended neonatal care leave, improved maternity and adoption support, stronger bereavement protections and up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave for each child. Ms Warnes said these reforms were “not optional extras” but “basic requirements for a modern workforce”. She said: “If policing wants to keep good people, it must support them not only as officers but as parents and carers. Family friendly policies are not a luxury. They are essential.” Last year, the Pay Review Body said there should be consideration for two weeks maternity support leave (paternity leave) to be paid in full, however, this was not agreed by the National Reward Team who work on behalf of the National Police Chiefs’ Council. “We are no further forward on this.


For now, the right to paternity leave exists, but the experience of accessing it remains uneven. Until policing adopts a more consistent and supportive approach, the postcode lottery is likely to continue,” Ms Warnes concluded.


41 | POLICE | JUNE | 2026


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